Backband hook fastener



May-13 1924. I 1,493,587

B. L. ADAMS ET AL v BACKBAND HOOK FASTENER Filed Aug. 30. 19" 2 Patented May 13, 1924.

L I i v TES BEVELY L. ADAMS AND LEN W. COOPER, OF ATHENS, GEORGIA.

BACKBANID HOOK FASTENER.

Application filed August 30, 1922. Serial No. 585,180.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that BEVELY L. ADAMS and LEN W. COOPER, citizens of the United States, residing at Athens, in the county of Clarke and State of Georgia, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Backband Hook Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in back band hook fasteners.

The primary objects of the invention are to provide a device of the character described which shall be simple in construction, significally durable in use, cheap to manufacture, and reliable.

It is well known to farmers and others that backbands, per se, rapidly wear out if made of material which will give a maximum of comfort to a draft animal and which avoids the formation of sores and galls on the back or sides of the animal; and that it is sometimes difficult and expensive to repair devices of this class by replacing broken, worn, and essential parts. One of the objects of our invention is to supply an efficient device that combines great simplicity in construction and durability in use. Our invention consists in making a backband of suitable flexible material, such as duck, canvas, cotton, stuffed or filled with hair or cotton, and preferably quilted, and provided with a trace carrier which is secured to the backband by two sheets of metal, preferably made of galvanized iron, one of which passes transversely around the backband near each of the ends thereof. and the other extending longitudinally of the back band over each of the said transverse sheets to a point beyond the lower or outer edge thereof, and is then folded upon itself. When these two pieces and the yielding backband are riveted together the outer end of the outer sheet is formed with an eye to receive a straight portion of a hook of a trace carrier such as hereinafter described, or a hook of any other suitable construction. Each end of the backhand is preferably provided with a flexible pad or wear plate of suitable material, which extends under the trace carrier to protect the backhand and to prolong its useful life. The metal strip which passes around the backhand at each end thereof is permanently riveted or otherwise attached thereto. It is pressed into the faces and edges of the backband, espe cially the faces, so that parts thereof will stand out beyond the metallic plates and form a cushion that will prevent the plates, or either of them, from chafing Or rubbing the sides of the draft animal.

The hook of a trace carrier as herein shown for illustrative purposes is preferably made of wire having a transverse portion, parallel with the transverse axis of the backband, which is formed into an eye of the outer metallic plate to receive such transverse portion; the sides of the hook then extend inwardly and downwardly, then outwardly, thence upwardly and thence downwardly to a point preferably in a plane substantially in a line with the inner edges of the converging sides of the hook. The form of this hook and the yielding backhand between the trace chain and the backband renders a keeper over the end of the hook unnecessary. As shown, one end of the hook is made a little shorter than the other end.

Referring to the drawings, in which we have shown one embodiment of our invention, and in which like numerals of reference refer to like parts,

Figure 1 is a plan view of the end of a backhand embodying our invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line ab of Fig. 1.

5 is the backhand which is made of canvas, felt, or other suitable material, which is stuffed with hair or cotton or other material and is then quilted, as shown at 6, and is provided with a wear pad or plate at its lower or outer end over which the hook ex tends and upon which it has its bearing. This wear plate or pad can be made also of canvas, or leather, or other suitable ma-v terial. 7 is a metallic plate preferably of galvanized sheet metal which passes around the band and is lapped upon itself to a point beyond the further rivets. 8 is a second metallic plate, also preferably of galvanized sheet metal which is folded upon itself, forming an eye 9, and which extends back over the face of the transverse plate 7 and is then secured to said plate and to the backhand by a series of rivets 10, preferably made of copper to prevent rusting. The plate 7 is of such length that when folded and riveted to the plate 8 and to the backband 5, it will compress the face of the backband, as shown at 11, on the face of the backhand and also at the edges thereof, as at 12. This is done to prevent the plate from rubbing or chafing the sides of the draft animal wearing the same. Referring to the form of hook shown it has a straight transverse portion 1-3 which has its bearing in the eye 9 and has downwardly converging sides 14 which are then extended outwardly, as at 15, thence upwardly as. at 16, and thence inwardly as at 117 one or both points of the ends of the hook extending inwardlyv to a point preferably about. on a plane with the inner edges of the: converging side bar's We are aware that changes in the form and proportion of pants and materials to be used may be made without departing fromv the principle or'sa-crificing' the advantages of our improvements and we therefore reserve the right to make such changes that fairly fall Within the scope of; our invention.

We have had: very satisfactory resultsin introducingv our backbandhook fastener into practical use. We find that it gives entire satisfaction 'by reason of its promotion of comfort to the draft animal, its great utility, and the cheapness in manufacturing the same.

We claim:

A backhand composed of yieldable material having means for securing a hook fastener thereto, comprising a clamping plate which extends around the backhand and is pressed therein so that the clamping plate is disposed beneath the surfaces of the backband thereby preventing the said plate from rubbing the sides or back of the animal, a second plate having means to receive a portion of a hook trace carrier and means for attaching the said second plate to the clamping plate.

Inttestimony whereof we aflix our signatures.

. BEVELY L. ADAMS.

LEN W. COOPER. 

